We have been using a crate since we brought our GSD home at 7 weeks. He has absolutely no problem sleeping in his crate, especially if we are in bed sleeping beside him . But even now at 9 weeks old when he wakes up and we aren't home to let him out he goes bezerk. Barking, howling, crying jumping on the sides of the crate (We have a webcam on him while we are out) for sometimes an hour+ until he falls back to sleep.
He is never in his crate for more than 3 hours at a time but like clock work, when he wakes from his naps he is one unhappy puppy.
WE are considering getting a 2nd crate to keep in the family room where we spend most of our time when we are home to give him some more crate experience but I don't know if this will even help.

Does anyone else have this problem and does anyone have any suggestions to help make this transition easier?

I'm no expert, but I tend to agree with Maggie, at nine weeks, if the crate is safe and secure, don't worry about it and it should pass. I got Mauser at 16 weeks, and he did it for a few weeks. The webcam may just be a form of torturing yourselves.

Maybe he needs to go potty or is crying for attention. It's normal. I would put his crate elsewhere (not in bedroom) and let him cry it out. He's still a baby and will eventually grow out of it as long as you don't respond to it.

Maybe he needs to go potty or is crying for attention. It's normal. I would put his crate elsewhere (not in bedroom) and let him cry it out. He's still a baby and will eventually grow out of it as long as you don't respond to it.

That happened with our puppy as well. He is now 12 weeks old and quite comfortable in his crate! He even whines to go in when he is tired and wants to nap.

When crating our puppy, we put a sheet over the crate to make the crate darker and to avoid excess stimuli that could provoke him. We also made sure to feed him in the crate and put plenty of toys in there to make sure he does not see it as a punishment.

At 12 weeks old, he now goes in his crate for roughly 4 hours at a time at night without issue. We get up and let him out for a potty break, put him back in and he goes right back in without problem.

Just keep working at it! He will eventually get accustomed to the crate, especially if you establish a good schedule. Good luck!

You might be creating it. If you leave right after you put the puppy in a crate he begins to associate the crate with the anxiety of finding himself alone. Practice crate time when you are still going to be in the house but in another room. If he acts up punish it by marking with a no and smacking the crate. If he's getting good at remaining calm at progressively longer intervals when he can't see you reward him with food or freedom.

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